Undergarment



y 1964 H. B. GRIFFITH UNDERGARMENT 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 20, 1961INVENTOR. fla/vy 5 6r Ju y 1964 H. B. GRIFFITH 3,141,313

UNDERGARMENT Filed Sept. 20, 1961 H 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 g Q Q INI /EN TOR.Harry .8. G/ZffLZ/Z,

H. B. GRIFFITH July 21, 1964 UNDERGARMENT Filed Sept. 20. 1961 3Sheets-Sheet 3 QQQQWSQ INVENTQR. z; GIZIC/ZZL/Z,

United States Patent 3,141,318 UNDERGARMENT Harry B. Griflith, Chicago,Ill., assignor to Munsingwear, Inc., Minneapolis, Minn, a corporation ofDelaware Filed Sept. 20, 1961, Ser. No. 139,543 10 Claims. (Cl. 66-177)This invention relates to undergarments and it has particular relationto pantie girdles. It constitutes an improvement over the undergarmentdisclosed in application Serial No. 750,609, filed July 24, 1958, nowPatent No. 3,026,697, issued March 27, 1962.

Among the objects of this invention are: To provide an improved crotchconstruction for a pantie girdle; to knit the crotch continuously withthe knitting of the adjacent portions of the girdle thereby providing apermanently attached, neat and comfortable crotch portion; to eliminatethe highly objectionable chafing in the crotch portion of anundergarment which is incident to the use of the conventional sewed incrotch piece; to fashion the crotch portion as a part of thecontinuously knit garment in such manner as to avoid binding or cuttingat the groin; to improve the ventilation characteristics at the crotchportion of a pantie girdle; to provide for knitting the crotch portionsimultaneously with the knitting of the remaining portions of a pantiepanel or blank in the continuous operation by mechanical means on a fullfashioned knitting machine, thereby eliminating the necessity for sewingin a conventional crotch piece; to shift the direction in which thewales in the crotch portion run to be substantially in line with theapplied stress and at substantial angles to the vertical extending walesof the adjacent portions of the undergarment; to knit the wales in thecrotch portion in the same vertical direction that they are knit in theadjacent garment portions; and to knit the crotch portion withnon-elastic yarn whereby compression is relieved, abrasion is eliminatedand additional porosity is provided to assure the wearer of the garmentcomfort and utility value.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a view, showing by broken lines, the outline of the knittedpanel or blank knit in accordance with this invention and by full linesthe portion thereof that is knit initially and provides tubular weltsalong the bottoms of the leg portions.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the finished knitted panel or blank as it comesfrom the knitting machine.

FIG. 3 is a view, similar to FIG. 2, showing a modification with respectto the fashioning of the leg portions.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the knitted panel or blank having a tubularwelt along the top and ready to be seamed to a complementary panel orblank to form the undergarment.

FIG. 5 is a view, in side elevation, of the panel or blank shown in FIG.4 with the tubular welts at the upper and lower ends being illustratedin somewhat exaggerated manner in order to show the details ofconstruction.

FIG. 6 is a view, at an enlarged scale, showing how the knittingoperation is performed to form the crotch portion at the same time thatthe adjacent portions of the pantie panel or blank are formed.

FIG. 7 is a view, in side elevation, of the completed garment andshowing its application to a female body.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the stitch formation that isused throughout the principal portion of the garment.

FIG. 9 is a view, somewhat diagrammatic in character, showing how theknitting operation is performed in the pantie panel or blank prior to,during and after the knitting of that portion of which includes thecrotch portion.

FIG. 10 is a view, similar to FIG. 9, showing a modified crotch andknitting thereof.

This specification is addressed to those skilled in the art and familiarwith conventional types of knitting machines. For these reasons thedetails of the knitting machine and their manipulation will not be givenother than to the extent that appears to be necessary to disclose thepresent invention.

Referring now particularly to FIG. 4 of the drawings, it will beobserved that the reference character 10 designates, generally, a pantiepanel or blank that is knit in accordance with this invention. Thepantie panel or blank 10 includes leg portions 11-11 having at theirlower ends tubular welts 12-12. If desired, the leg portions 11-11 canbe fashioned out at 13-13 on the insides for the purpose of shaping themat these portions of the panel or blank. At the upper ends of the legportions 11-11 there is a crotch portion, indicated generally at 14, thedetails of the knitting of which form an important part of thisinvention and will be described hereinafter. The leg portions 11-11 andthe crotch portion 14 are knit as a part of a. continuous knittingoperation with a body portion 15 that is fashioned in at 16-16 along thesides in order to conform to the body shape of the wearer. The bodyportion 15 is fashioned out at 1717 for a few courses also to conform tothe body shape of the wearer and it terminates at the upper end in atubular welt that is indicated, generally, at 18.

The knitting operation is carried out on a full-fashioned flat bedknitting machine employing certain well known features of thefull-fashioned knitting art to knit the pantie panel or blank 10. It isbegun simultaneously along the lower edges 21-21, FIG. 1, of insides22-22 of the tubular welts 12-12. Knitting is carried out on afull-fashioned knitting machine which is provided with four yarncarriers, there being two carriers for each leg portion 11. The yarn isfed by these yarn carriers into the respective needles for these legportions. One carrier of each pair has elastic yarn, such as Spandex,rubber or the like while the other carrier of each pair has nonelasticyarn, such as Banlon, nylon or the like. The knitting operation iscarried out in such manner as to plate the non-elastic yarn over theelastic yarn. A welt bar is inserted in the knitting machine and anumber of courses are run, for example courses, beginning at the loweredges 21-21 to form the insides 22-22 of the tubular welt 12 along thelower ends of the leg portions 11-11. The knitting operation continuessimultaneously for each of the insides 22-22 of the tubular welt 12 forthe predetermined number of courses at which time the elastic yarn isomitted from each inside 22 for two courses. Then a picot bar isautomatically actuated to pick up every other stitch from its needle andmove it over the adjoining needle, as is conventional, to form a picotor lace design 23-23 for this particular course which provides a foldline to permit the insides 22-22 of the tubular welt 12 to be foldedover. Thereafter the knitting operation continues simultaneously for theleg portions 11-11 to form simultaneously the outsides 24- 24 of thetubular welt 12. After the same number of courses have been run to formthe outsides 24-24 of the tubular welts 12-12 that were run to form theinsides 22-22, the welt bar is inserted between the sinkers and dividersand the needle bar is laid back into the grooves which are provided inthe design of the hooks in the welt bar, a practice which isconventional in the full-fashioned hosiery art where welt turning isemployed. Then the insides 22-22 of the tubular welts 12-12 are pulleddown over the needles which are embedded in the grooves and thereby thefabric is freed from the hooks and now is impaled on the needles alongwith the originally formed loops. After the tubular welts 12-12 havebeen turned, the knitting operation continues simultaneously for the legportions lll1l and the two yarns are knit simultaneously for each legportion ll above the respective tubular Wclts 12 for a limited number ofcourses, for example 4 courses, whereupon the picot action again takesplace to form the picot or lace designs 25-25, as indicated in FIG. 2.It will be understood that FlG. 1 shows the simultaneous knitting of theinsides 2Z22 of the tubular welts l212, the formation of the picot orlace designs 2323 and the subsequent knitting simultaneously of theoutsides 2424- of the welts l2 12 while PEG. 2 shows the welts 1?; 12after they have been turned and the knitting operation continuessimultaneously for the leg portions 1l-11 including the formation of thepicot or lace designs 25-25.

When it is desired to fashion the insides of the leg portions ll1l, asindicated at l3-It3, after the picot or lace designs 2525 have beenformed, the knitting machine automatically racks in the narrowingfingers to a predetermined point to cover a selected number of needles,thereby starting the fashioning to widen the insides of the leg portionsl1l1 as indicated at lit-13.

Instead of accomplishing the fashioning of the leg portions 11l1 alongthe insides, as indicated in Fit}. 2, the fashioning can be accomplishedas indicated at 26-26 in FIG. 3 where these operations are carried outalong the outer edges of the leg portions HIlii. Otherwise the pantiepanel or blank it), shown in FIG. 3, is knit in the same manner that thepantie panel or blank 19, shown in FIG. 2, is knit. The widening can beaccomplished along the outside selvages, as shown in FIG. 3 at 2:; 26,by using end stops. In order to perform the fashioning as indicated at1313 along the selvages on the inner sides of the leg portions ll111,pointex stops are employed. Whether the fashioning is performed asindicated at 13-l3 in FIG. 2 or at 26-26 in FlG. 3 depends upon theultimate desired design of the finished garment. In the knittingoperation, as herein disclosed, the pointex stops are not used to knit areinforced fabric but are used to lock the fabric at 29 and in theknitting of the leg portions lllllll to form the inside leg selvages andshape the insides, as in FIG. 2, and to act as a stop to provide theconfiguration shown in FIG. 3.

The simultaneous knitting operations to form the leg portions ll1.llcontinue for a predetermined number of courses, for example 500 courses,until the top portions, indicated at 27-27 by the broken lines, arereached. As shown in FIG. 6 the wales 2823 in the leg portions 1111 runvertically. For the next course the upper inner sides of the legportions llll1 are locked at 29 by using the pointex for the two steps.The leg portions 1111 are now complete and all of the needles are used;i.e., including those needles between leg portions 11-11 not used inknitting them. Then a set of auxiliary stops is automatically put intoaction at the time that the pointex is out of action. The operation ofthe knitting machine is controlled by its timing mechanism that ispreset to cause the various operations to occur in the desired sequenceand at the desired times. While the leg portions 11l1 are being knit,the pointex stops are in their down positions. On completion of theknitting of the leg portions 1l1ll and the locking function at 29, thepointex stops are mechanically lifted out of the way under the controlof the timing mechanism and a pair of auxiliary stops takes over. Whenthis takes place, instead of one non-elastic yarn carrier stopping inthe center, the auxiliary stops permit it to go beyond the center whilestopping one elastic yarn carrier before it reaches the center. Oneneedle before the one elastic yarn carrier stops, the other non-elasticyarn carrier starts with both non-elastic yarn carriers togetherknitting a course across the crotch portion. One needle before the onenon-elastic yarn carrier is stopped, the other elastic yarn carrierstarts and with the other non-elastic yarn carrier the course iscompleted to the other side of the body portion 15. This allows twonon-elastic yarn carriers to overlap in the median portion 3%) of thecrotch portion 14 and of the panel or blank lit) for about two inchesand stops the two elastic yarn carriers a substantial distance, forexample two inches, from the central or median portion of the crotchportion M so that the elastic and non-elastic yarns overlap for oneneedle.

It will be understood that the crotch portion 14, which is shown in moredetail in FIG. 6, is knit employing non-elastic yarn only. Thesurrounding portions of pantie panel or blank ltl contain both theelastic and non-elastic yarns. By knitting the crotch portion 14 solelyfrom non-elastic yarn, compression is relieved here against the body ofthe wearer. Also abrasion is eliminated due to the rubbing of theelastic yarn against non-elastic yarn in this sensitive portion of thebody of the wearer. Moreover, additional porosity is provided therebyassuring the wearer of the garment comfort and greater utility value.

The crotch portion 1 is knit by using a single needle narrowing everytwo courses as indicated at 3232 with a pullback in the non-elasticfabric. As a result of the single needle narrowing, the wales 3333 inthe crotch portions 3 2? 4- on opposite sides of the median portion 3%extend angularly with respect to the vertically extending wales 2823 ofthe previously knit leg portions 11-- ill. Bearing in mind that thecrotch portion 14 conforms to the shape of the body of the wearer, itwill be appreciated that the extension of the wales 33-33 in oppositeangular relation to the vertically extending wales 28 23 below and alsoabove the crotch portion 14 accommodates the stress incident to theapplication of the garment to the body of the wearer generally along theinclined Wales 33-33 rather than generally at right angles thereto,which would be the case if they were continuations of the vertical wales23 The angle of inclination of the Wales 33-33 to the vertical is of theorder of 45 but it can vary somewhat from this figure as will heunderstood.

in knitting the portions 34-424 to form the non-elastic crotch portion 1the narrowing fingers of the knitting machine are actuated automaticallyto pick up every stitch from the needles covered by the narrowingfingers and move them over one needle toward the center of the knittingmachine with the pullback thereafter relocating the narrowing hngers totheir original positions. This action may be repeated a number of times,for example, sixty times.

When the top 35 of the crotch portion 14 is reached, the two yarncarriers, previously used to knit one of the legs 11 and the crotchportions 54, are automatically lifted out of action and the other twoyarn carriers with elastic and non-elastic yarns, previously used forknitting the other leg portion 11 and the crotch portions 34, areallowed to operate entirely across the knitting head to knitcontinuously the pantie panel or blank 1i) and in particular to knit thebody portion 15.

As the knitting of the body portion 15 continues for a number ofcourses, for example 960 courses, it is desirable to reduce the width ofits upper portion in order to conform to the shape of the female body.Accordingly, the narrowing machine goes into action to fashion in theupper portion of the body portion 15 as indicated at ll3l6 for apredetermined number of narrowings, for example 38. The fashioning inoperation ceases and then the fashioning out operation begins asindicated at ll"7-fl7 for a number of widenings, for example llll, toconform to the body shape and to facilitate ease of donnin g thegarment.

The knitting operation continues and a course is knit in which theelastic yarn is omitted and which contains the picot or lace design, asindicated at The knitting operation resumes with the elastic yarn for anumber of courses, for example courses, to the outside 37 of the uppertubular elt 18. Then the picot or lace design 38 is knit followed byknitting of the inside 39 of the tubular welt 18 comprising, forexample, 70 courses. The knitting operation then is completed and thecompleted pantie panel or blank or 10, as indicated in FIGS. 2 and 3, isremoved from the knitting machine.

Thereafter the inside 39 of the upper tubular welt 18 is turned backalong the picot or lace design 38 and it is seamed, as indicated at 41)in FIG. 5, to the lower edge of the outside 37 of the tubular welt 18.

Next, as shown in FIG. 7, the pantie panel blank 10 is seamed, asindicated at 41, along its opposite selvage edges to a back pantiepanel, indicated generally at 42, which is knit in generally the samefashion as previously described for the pantie panel or blank 10 withsuitable modifications in the number of Wales and courses to con form tothe rear portion of the body. They are also seamed together (not shown)along the selvage edges of the insides of the leg portions 11-11. Theassembly of the undergarment, indicated generally at 43, now iscomplete. Thereafter the garment 43 is washed and boarded in accordancewith conventional practice.

Insofar as the operation of the knitting machine for knitting a legportion 11 and the body portion is concerned, conventional knittingpractice is employed using any suitable stitch formation, such as aJersey stitch.

FIG. 8 shows a typical portion of the knitted fabric outside of theareas where the picot lace designs are formed and also outside of theparticular portions indicating where the fashioning has taken place. Theelastic yarn is indicated at 44 while the non-elastic yarn is indicatedat 45, the latter being plated over the former in order to provide arelatively soft surface for contact with the surface of the body of thewearer. In the portions 34-34 of the crotch portion 14 the stitchformation is as shown in FIG. 8 except that both yarns are non-elastic.

FIG. 9 of the drawings shows in more detail the preferred manner inwhich the knitting operation is carried out. Here is illustrated theknitting of the upper portions of the leg portions 11-11 followed by thelocking of the split there-between at 29, the knitting of the crotchportion 14 made up of like crotch portions 34-34 with Wales 33-33inclining toward each other and away from the vertical direction inwhich the wales 28 extend as a result of narrowing at 32-32 and thecontinued knitting of the body portion 15 of the pantie panel.Considering the right leg portion 11 shown in FIG. 9 it will be observedthat a line 46 containing a single arrowhead indicates that this isnon-elastic yarn such as that indicated at 45 in FIG. 8. Similarly theline 47 indicates by the two arrowheads thereon that it is formed byelastic yarn, such as that indicated at 44 in FIG. 8. A course is knitusing the two yarns simultaneously to plate the non-elastic yarn overthe elastic yarn. They are shown here in spaced relation to permitidentification. At the same time the course, as indicated at 46 and 47,is being knit, a similar course 48 and 49 is being knit to form the leftleg portion 11. The yarn carriers return from left to right to continuethe knitting operation of both leg portions 11-11 simultaneously. Afterthe leg portions 11-11 have been completely knit, the next courseindicated at 50 is run and shows by the application thereto of threearrowheads that both the elastic an non-elastic yarns are being used.The course 50 extends not only across the top of the right leg portion11 but also extends across the split 29. At the time that the courseindicated at 56 is begun across the top of the right leg portion 11, acourse indicated at 51 is begun at the right edge of the top of the leftleg portion 11 which also contains elastic and non-elastic yarn asindicated by the three arrowheads thereon. The course 50 continues pastthe upper left edge of the right leg portion 11 to the upper right edgeof the left leg portion so as to provide the overlap at the split 29 tolock the stitches of the 6 course 50 with the stitches of the course 51.This is repeated on the return stroke to provide the second step of thelocked stitch formation above referred to.

The knitting now continues with a course comprising a non-elastic yarn52 being knit along with the elastic yarn 53 and the single needlenarrowing at 32-32 every two courses. It will be noted that thenon-elastic yarn 52 is knit past the adjacent side 54 of the crotchportion 14, across the right crotch portion 34, the median portion 30,the left crotch portion 34 and beyond the remote side 55 of the crotchportion 14. Also it will be noted that the elastic yarn 53 is carriedonly part way and stops to the right of the adjacent side 54. Theelastic yarn 53 is replaced with a one needle overlap by nonelastic yarn56 which is knit together with non'elastic yarn 52 to continue thecourse begun by yarns 52 and 53 to form the crotch portions 34-34 withthe single needle narrowing at 32-32. At the left side of the leftcrotch portion 34 one needle before the non-elastic yarn 52 is dropped,the elastic yarn 57 is picked up and the course continues to the leftside of the panel 10 with the non-elastic yarn being plated over theelastic yarn. The next course is knit from left to right in the samemanner to complete that portion of the panel 10 which includes thecrotch portion 14 comprising the portions 34-34 of non-elastic yarns.The knitting operation continues in the manner described to knit thecrotch portions 34-34 of the entire crotch portion 14 of a nonelasticmaterial with the wales 33 of the respective portions inclined towardeach other and away from the vertically extending wales 28 in the legportions 11-11 and in the body portion 15.

It will be observed that the lower edges 58-58 of the crotch portions34-34 are shown as being inclined and likewise that the upper edges52-52? are similarly inclined. These edges are inclined in the knittedgarment after the knitting operation has been completed and are causedby the action of the elastic yarn in the portions of the garmentsurrounding the crotch portion 14.

After the crotch portions 34-34 have been knit in the manner described,the yarns previously employed for knitting the courses 48-49, 51, 5657are taken out of action. The two yarn carriers employed for knitting thecourses 46-47, 51) and 5253 then are allowed to operate entirely acrossthe knitting head as previously described, to knit the body portion 15of the pantie panel above the crotch portion 14. One of the courses ofnon-elastic and elastic yarn extending entirely across the body portion15 is indicated at 61) and 61 and corresponds, for example, to theportion of the course formed at 52-53 which is knit as described to formthe crotch portion 14 in the manner described.

While the crotch portion 14, knitted as described above, is thepreferred construction since the wales 33-33 of the portions 34-34 areinclined toward each other and away from the vertical, a satisfactorycrotch portion 14, as shown in FIG. 10, can be knit by omitting thenarrowing operations indicated at 32-32, FIG. 9, and previouslydescribed. When the knitting operation is performed in this mannerwithout the narrowing operations, the wales 62 of the crotch portion 14'run vertically and are continuations of the wales 28-28 in the legportions 11-11 and of the Wales 28 in the body portion 15. The crotchportion 14 is of uniform texture and the distinct median 30, FIG. 9,formed by the narrowing operations is absent.

it will be understood that, except for omitting the narrowing operations32-32 in the knitting of the crotch portion 14, the crotch portion 14 isknit in the same manner as the crotch portion 14 and that the remainderof the pantie panel 11 is knit and sewn in the manner previouslydescribed. Accordingly, in describing the knitting of the pantie panel10 with the crotch portion 14' as shown in FIG. 10, the same referencecharacters are employed. Here again is illustrated the knitting of theuppeportions of the leg portions lit-11 followed by the locking of thesplit therebetween at 29, the knitting of the crotch portion 14' withthe wales 62 extending vertically as do the wales 2 3, and the continuedknitting of the body portion 35 of the pantie panel. Considering theright leg portion 11 as shown in FIG. it wi be observed that the line ascontaining a single arrowhead indicates that this is non-elastic yarnsuch as that indicated at 45 in FIG. 8. Similarly the line 47 indicatesby the two arrowheads thereon that it is formed by elastic yarn, such asthat indicated at 44 in FIG. 8. A course is knit using the two yarnssimultaneously to plate the non-elastic yarn over the elastic yarn. Atthe same time that the course, as indicated at 4-6 and 4'7, is beingknit, a similar course d3 and d9 is being knit to form the left legportion ill. The yarn carriers return from left to right to continue theknitting operation of both leg portions ill-ll simultaneously. After theleg portions lll have been completely knit, the next course indicated at56 is run and shows by the application thereto of three arrowheads thatboth the elastic and non-elastic yarns are being used. The course 5i)extends not only across the top the right leg portion 11 but alsoextends across the split 29. At the time that the course indicated at563 is begun across the top of the right leg portion H, a courseindicated at 51 is begun at the right edge of the top of the left legportion 11 which also contains elastic and non-elastic yarn as indicatedby the time arrowheads thereon. The course 5i continues past the upperle' t edge of the right leg portion 11 to the upper right edge of theleft leg portion 11 so as to provide the overlap at the split 29 to lockthe stitches of the course 5t) with the stitches of the course 51. Thisis repeated on the return stroke to provide the second step of thelocked stitch formation above referred to.

The knitting now continues, without the narrowing previously described,with a course comprising a nonelastic yarn 52 being knit along withelastic yarn 53. i will be noted that the non-elastic yarn 52 is knitpast the adjacent side 54 of the crotch portion lid and entirely acrossit and beyond the remote side 55 thereof. Also it will be noted that theelastic yarn 53 is carried only part way and stops to the right of theadjacent side 54. The knitting for this portion of the panel illcontinues as described above for crotchportion .ld to complete thecrotch portion 14' without employing the narrowing operations.

After the crotch portion 14 has been knit in the manner described, theyarns previously employed for knitting the courses 48-49, 51, are takenout of action. The two yarn carriers employed for knitting out courses4-6-47, Sll and 5253 then are allowed to operate entirely across theknitting head as previously described, to knit the body portion of thepantie panel above the crotch portion 14.

What is claimed as new is:

1. A one piece panel for a body molding garment comprising continuouslyknit fabric having a body portion, leg portions depending therefrom, anda crotch portion at the juncture thereof, said body and leg portionsbeing formed by courses of plated elastic and nonelastic yarns and saidcrotch portion being formed by courses of non elastic yarns, thenon-elastic yarns on opposite sides of said crotch portion extendingacross the same and plated with the corresponding elastic yarns on theopposite side.

2. A one piece panel for a body molding garment comprising continuouslyknit fabric having a body portion, leg portions depending therefrom, anda crotch portion at the juncture thereof, said body and leg portionshaving the wales extending vertically, said crotch portion having thewales extending at a substantial angle away from the vertical.

3. A one piece panel for a body molding garment comprising continuouslyknit ;iabric having a body portion, leg portions depending therefrom,and a crotch portion at the juncture thereof, said body and leg portionshaving the wales extending vertically, said crotch portion comprisingtwo crotch portions on opposite sides of the median of the panel havingthe walves in each crotch portion inclined toward the wales in the othercrotch portion.

4. A one piece panel for a body molding garment comprising continuouslyknit fabric having a body portion, leg portions depending therefrom, anda crotch portion at the juncture thereof, said body and leg portionsbeing formed by elastic and non-elastic yarns with the wales extendingvertically, said crotch portion being formed by non-elastic yarns andcomprisina two crotch portions on opposite sides of the median of thepanel having the ends of the non-elastic yarns in interlocking relationalong the sides of the crotch portion with the juxtaposed ends ofelastic yarns and the wales in each crotch portion inclined toward thewales in the other crotch portion.

5. A one piece panel for a body molding garment comprising continuouslyknit fabric having a body portion, leg portions depending therefrom anda crotch portion at the juncture thereof, tubular welts along the lowerends of said leg portions, and a tubular welt along the upper end or"said body portion; said body portion, leg portions and welts having thewales extending vertically; said crotch portion having the walesextending at a substantial angle away from the vertical.

6. A method of knitting from yarn a pantie panel having crotch portionswhich comprises: simultaneously knitting each leg portion by coursesextending from one side of each leg portion to the opposite side withthe ends or" the courses along adjacent edges of said leg portions beingjuxtaposed, continuing the knitting of the leg portions andsimultaneously knitting therewith the crotch portions and interlockingthe ends of the juxtaposed courses, and continuing the knitting of thebody portion of the panel.

7. A method of knitting from yarn a pantie panel having crotch portionswhich comprises: simultaneously knitting each leg portion by coursesextending from one side of each leg portion to the opposite side withthe ends of the courses along adjacent edges of said leg portions beingjuxtaposed, continuing the knitting of the leg portions andsimultaneously knitting therewith the crotch portions and interlockingthe ends of the juxtaposed courses, and continuing the knitting from oneleg portion and one crotch portion to form commonly with both leg andcrotch portions the body portion of the panel.

8. A method of knitting from yarn a pantie panel having crotch portionswhich comprises: simultaneously knitting each leg portion by coursesextending from one side of each leg portion to the opposite side withthe ends of the courses along adjacent edges of said leg portions beingjuxtaposed, continuing the knitting of the leg portions andsimultaneously knitting therewith the crotch portions with the walesrunning in angular relation to the wales in the leg portions andinterlocking the ends of the juxtaposed courses, and continuing theknitting of the body portion of the panel.

9. A method of knitting a pantie panel having a crotch portion from twopairs of strands of yarn, one strand of each pair being elastic yarn,which comprises: simultaneously knitting each leg portion by coursesextending from one side of each leg portion to the opposite side withthe ends of the courses along adjacent edges of said leg portions beingjuxtaposed in courses from each pair of strands, continuing the knittingof the courses of the leg portions from each pair of strands andsimultaneously knitting therewith from the non-elastic strand of eachpair the crotch portions and interlocking the juxtaposed ends of theelastic and non-elastic strands in the respective courses, andcontinuing the knitting of the body portion of the panel from one ofsaid pairs of strands.

10. A method of knitting a pantie panel having a 10 crotch portion fromtwo pairs of strands of yarn, one whereby the wales in each crotchportion are inclined strand of each pair being elastic yarn, whichcomprises: toward the wales of the other crotch portion andintersimultaneously knitting each leg portion by courses exlocking theends of the juxtaposed courses, and continutending from one side of eachleg portion to the opposite ing the knitting of the body portion of thepanel. side with the ends of the courses along adjacent edges 5 of saidleg portions being j1 1xtaposed from each pair of References Cited inthe file of this patent strands, COIItIHUIIIg the knitting of the legport ons from UNITED STATES PATENTS each pair of strands andsimultaneously knlttlng therewith from the non-elastic strand of eachpair the crotch 2,451,697 Spelchel' 191 1948 portions, narrowing at thesides of the crotch portion 10 3,926,697 Rutledge 27, 1962

1. A ONE PIECE PANEL FOR A BODY MOLDING GARMENT COMPRISING CONTINUOUSLYKNIT FABRIC HAVING A BODY PORTION, LEG PORTIONS DEPENDING THEREFROM, ANDA CROTCH PORTION AT THE JUNCTURE THEREOF, SAID BODY AND LEG PORTIONSBEING FORMED BY COURSES OF PLATED ELASTIC AND NON-ELASTIC YARNS AND SAIDCROTCH PORTION BEING FORMED BY COURSES OF NONELASTIC YARNS, THENON-ELASTIC YARNS ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID CROTCH PORTION EXTENDINGACROSS THE SAME AND PLATED WITH THE CORRESPONDING ELASTIC YARNS ON THEOPPOSITE SIDE.